I had reservations about this prior to reading it, but was surprised to enjoy it. I like it. As Mystic states it is similar in vein to other stories of malicious seas in many stories, books, etc but I don't see a reason why its not interesting. I wish it was longer but I also realize it doesn't need to be longer. It is the perfect size for what it is, a myth or story overheard in a seaside tavern right before the players get shanked on a ship by being shanghaied or a simple trip across the sea. Go to Comment

Interesting. Every major body of water needs one or more such mysterious spots. I'm a little confused by this line though... "The Bloodmaw's purpose is the add decoration, strategic depth, etc. to a map, not to provide a quest, though" Aside from that, if one goes with the twin giant sharks option, maybe the "red sea" around the maelstrom is not from the dirt at the sea's bottom, but from the various sea-creatures the sharks herd and devour, while chasing each other in circles. A sort of frenzied feeding. "Aye, Jimbo, the seas be red around the maelstrom. The Sons-of-the-Seagod be feeding again!"

Interestingly enough, unless this is some very tight waters, a 1 mile wide navigation hazard is unlikely to mess up a trade route, as reefs and shoals can do the very same thing, and are often easier to miss than blood-red waters.

It would be something ships occasionally would run into, perhaps after years of sailing the same waters, perhaps blown there by an unrelated storm.

The core idea sounds a little too much like the Blood Sea of Istar from Dragonlance for my comfort. I would possibly vote higher if you put a spin on it and made it your own. The myths surrounding it could use some fleshing out as well. Go to Comment

By the line, I meant that the Bloodmaw isn't a thing to be solved. There are no special McGuffins to end it, and save a couple of sailors. Its purpose is just what you said- a mysterious spot. That kills people. Go to Comment

I loved the intro story but then the actual person kinda fell flat for me. He is insanely difficult to use and the plot suggestions are very specific and require a lot of set-up. I like the mood it sets up A LOT and would enjoy it much more as fiction in its current state and would love to read a bit more about the crimes. Go to Comment

Fair enough, and having a one shot villain to throw at the players is required of having an in depth back story. However as stated by caesar himself, Smith was granted with a huge inheritance that made it possible for his crime spree to begin. I am curious as to why this big inheritance was given and if it was the push that made him a criminal or was he a murderer long before he became rich?

I get the mystery behind not knowing is one for an outside viewer but for one to run someone such as him I personally like to know why he became the way he is, his motivation for doing it, etc. Me I just like to know everything. Go to Comment

Ok I see this and read it and his crimes are pretty brutal. I don't see the Judges family on there, or if I did I didn't recognize the names.

One other thing I don't see is a catalyst or motive. These types of crimes don't just happen. Something leads up to it or causes it, hence my desire for the backstory. He is still a creepy guy for sure, and as a Gm I just like information so don't do it just appease me but his reason behind killing just doesn't hit me/ Go to Comment

That is a little graphic no? Nobody says s**t about this but people get all huffy if you type f**k. Darn backward moral code if you asked me.

Overall this reminds of the anti-batman character from the comic Nemesis (thanks A.B.) and of course the character from Se7en (with the single finger print and all).

As to Adam Smith, I like this version of him and his blood thirsty capital_crimes_list. Get it Adam Smith wrote "The wealth of nations" and this Adam Smith made a lot of deposits in the blood bank.....no?....bah

Again like the others I would like to know more, write now it is all flair and no depth.

Here is a question: Some villains and heros, are more effective and more interesting if you don't know their backstory. Kevin Spacey's character from Se7en, the Jackel (as not represented by Bruce Willis), or the Joker as seen in the latest Batman movies.
The lack of a back story for Smith may make him all the more terrifying, but does the GM need to know his backstory to run him effectively?

When you want to run a soulless unattached deviant with no real connection to the world save a desire to hurt, it what more can you say about him. Perhaps it is all style?

Adam Smith escapes from prison and travels to new town and starts up his murderous spree again. Little does Adam Smith expect that he will finally meet his match, the world’s most incompetent police force and unmotivated journalistic community. Try as Adam Smith might to stake out (literally he put a stake into somebody) a reputation and inspire fear in people he just can’t get these badge totting morons to connect even the most obvious dots. Murders go unnoticed or misunderstood. The local PETA president eaten by rescue kittens was never discovered. The couple buried alive under a ton coal was declared an accident, the detailed calling card describing how he killed a local vicar with a high pressure liquid nitrogen enema was declared a suicide note, and the investigation of the man tricked into to eating ball bearings before the MRI was derailed by poor paper work and a mix up at the morgue. They dismissed that calling card as a prank cause autopsy ruled it a hearth attack. Just last week Adam Smith went to the police station to inquire about the how the investigation into that “terrible trebuchet and sewing needle related death” was going and the duty sergeant paused from her texting long enough to point at the chalk board listing open cases. His latest masterpiece was beneath “tire fire”.

Truly, Adam Smith was put out. He could move to new town, but then what about all the work he put into this mid-size town. He would just have to play both sides. So Mr. Smith goes to hire the some professionals. The PCs are brought in to town with the promise of money and the goal of getting these investigations back on track. Then the "action" starts.

1) The PCs have to wrestle the case away from the momentum of incompetence that currently holds them.

2) Another elaborate murder occurs (sort of) but even the PCs will find convincing evidence that this was an accident, all be it, a freakish one. There is the absence of the dragon card, which their employer insists would be there. The hitch is that local minister and his friend the town’s largest landowner, both ex-spies or cops, have been working to cover up the murders. a. Minister “This would just ruin the town, a few accidents we can handle but serial killer…no thank you…they never make you look good.” b. Land Owner: “Best just to ignore these types, they will move along or die, at least he doesn’t do it on the street. ”

3) Smith starts cracking up, he is practically confessing to crimes, finding evidence and insisting that crime scenes have been tampered with. The PCs will no doubt be putting things together. If they do “catch” Smith I can imagine the confrontation going something like this.

Smith-“Hello, my friends, I suppose this isn’t really what you expected is it.”

PC 1- “Well….uh…you kind of told us where to look for stuff”

PC 2- “Wait, are we still getting paid?”

Smith-“I think a certain payment will be delivered, perhaps not what you expected, but a man can only do so much from jail. Of course I have been know to plan ahead as Judge Rudolph would attest”

PC 1- “Who?”

PC 3- “Listen bud we work for you, no reason to send you up the river”

PC 2- “I forget did he pay us”

Smith-sipping his brandy, “I suppose you will want toknow how the undertaker’s fingers ended up in the boot of that volkswagon.”

All PCs- “Nah”

PC 3- “You said there would be a reward if we got the guy, is that still tr-”

PC 4I shoot Smith in the head

GM-wait you don’t know how the fish monger ended up glued to the wrecking ball